Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Sukthankar’s Marathi film Samhita – The Script cast and crew can celebrate

Marathi film Samhita- The Script nominated for 4 Screen Awards! Sukthankar who is known for making films on off-beat subjects has created a record of sorts by winning two national awards and 20 other awards. The national award winning film is released all over Maharashtra on October 11, 2013. It is produced by Subhash Ghai’s Mukta Arts Ltd in collaboration with Ashok Movies Pvt.Ltd and Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Sukthankar’s film production company Vichitra Nirmiti and it is presented by Subhash Ghai.

This film is about Revati, a national award winning filmmaker played by Devika Dafatardar who has visualized a screenplay set in the era of British Raj. The story of the film revolves around a king, a queen and a court singer. It is the story of love, detachment, surrender and passion. Interestingly while visualizing the story the filmmaker’s personal life is intermingled with the visualization. A producer, a writer, an actor and three other women along with the director are in search for blissful ending of the story of their film as well as personal lives. In short the story of the Samhita is the story of the filmmaker herself.

Three noted organizations have come together to make Samhita- The Script. The film is produced by noted filmmaker Subhash Ghai’s Mukta Arts Ltd in collaboration with Ashok Movies Pvt. Ltd and Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Sukthankar’s film production company Vichatra Nirmiti.

Veteran director Sai Paranjpye will inaugurate the opening ceremony followed by the felicitation of Saroj Khan, Reema Kagti, Shabana Azmi, Revathi and Usha Khanna, among others

The first ever Mumbai Women’s International Film Festival (MWIFF) 2013 opens tonight at the Ravindra Natya Mandir in Prabhadevi, Mumbai. The festival, to be held from October 8-14, will be inaugurated by veteran director and screenwriter Sai Paranjpye at 6pm IST. The opening ceremony will be hosted by TV actor and singer Mauli Dave.

The festival will also have masterclasses and interactions by industry stalwarts like Nandita Das, Renuka Shahane, Anjum Rajabali, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, KU Mohanan and Kamlesh Pandey. Here’s the full list:

Organised by Oculus Creations and supported by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) under Government of Maharashtra, the MWIFF aims to provide a platform for female filmmakers and technicians. The closing ceremony of the festival, to be held on Monday, October 14 at the Sophia Bhabha Auditorium at Peddar Road, Mumbai, will be hosted by actor and renowned anchor Saumya Tandon.

The veteran Bollywood actor, who will be seen on TV show 24, will be honoured at the first edition of the fest

Veteran actor Shabana Azmi will be felicitated at the inaugural Mumbai Women’s International Film Festival (MWIFF) 2013 starting in Mumbai on October 8. The week-long event, organised by Oculus Creations with the support of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), aims to give women filmmakers an international platform to showcase their talent.

Shabana, who has featured in films like Ankur, Arth, Masoom and Fire, has been a testimony of woman power in the film industry, believes Ravi Hathalia, film co-ordinator of the fest.

“The festival is honoured to have the support of Shabana Azmi, who is a prominent and noted actress of the industry, With her commendable acting skills, she has shown ‘the power of a woman’. Thus, she will uplift the value of the festival with her presence,” Hathalia said in a statement.

In its first edition, the fest received 459 films from over 70 nations, of which over 180 will be screened. Keeping in mind the theme, the gala will have a pink carpet opening ceremony. The best feature film will win a Fatma Begum Award, named on Fatma Begum, the country’s first woman film director.